Tag: COVID-19

Why it is important that we treasure the truth

What do you do when you hear something, a big claim which if true has massive implications but for which there is no evidence, it is just someone’s claim? Surely the right thing to do before you start to spread the claim is to check your facts. Is there evidence or are you spreading a… Continue reading Why it is important that we treasure the truth

Are ethnic minorities to blame for COVID-19? (Panel discussion)

Yesterday, I took part in a panel discussion with Jose Galindes, pastor of Nueva Vida Con Cristo, the Spanish speaking church we helped plant a few years back. The starting question was “Are BAME communities to blame for the spread of COVID-19) in the UK? Jose also invited along some local councillors in Sandwell and… Continue reading Are ethnic minorities to blame for COVID-19? (Panel discussion)

Sub Tweeting the Church

There is a tendency at the moment towards something quite unpleasant and potentially dangerous. The other day, I wrote about the problem when people resort to hyperbole attacking this or that Christian for heresy without much evidence and when in fact the debate is usually one within the boundaries of orthodoxy about how to most… Continue reading Sub Tweeting the Church

The problem with porous boundaries

I’ve argued throughout COVID-19 that in a pandemic compliance and non-compliance matters.  The nature of non-compliance is important too. It is actually better to have a self-contained 10% of the population failing to comply if the other 90% are complying at 100%. However, if 100% of the population comply with 90% of the measures or… Continue reading The problem with porous boundaries

Covid and euthanasia of the elderly

Dystopian Literature often focuses on the concept that elderly people in an ordered authoritarian society will be required to accept that a day will come when they must lay down their lives. [1]For example, in “The Fixed Period” by Trollope, the inhabitants of Britannica near New Zealand legislate that at 67 years old, citizens should… Continue reading Covid and euthanasia of the elderly

Coronavirus and what the data is telling us

This is one of my regular appeals for us to work harder at understanding the Pandemic and to be slower to jump to tribal political responses of either panic or complacency. This week it was announced that the UK now topped the list as the worst hit country for deaths per million.  This led to… Continue reading Coronavirus and what the data is telling us

Why do Christians seem to get drawn into conspiracy theories?

I’ve seen this question asked by a couple of bloggers recently. My general response is that we should not assume that they are particularly more susceptible to them than anyone else it is just that we are generally more aware of it among Christians. However, the question about what will make those Christians that are… Continue reading Why do Christians seem to get drawn into conspiracy theories?

Joining a new church in lockdown

Circumstances have compelled us to change churches.  I’m very grateful that there are a couple of other churches that have been very loving and caring, looking out for us as we make that transition but not everyone has that luxury.  Ordinary church members are less likely to have church leaders watching out for them specifically… Continue reading Joining a new church in lockdown